Element 40

Zirconium (Zr)

Transition metal · Period 5 · Group 4 · d-block

Zirconium (Zr) is element 40 of the periodic table, a transition metal in period 5, group 4 (d-block) with an atomic mass of 91.224 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
40
Symbol
Zr
Atomic mass
91.224 u
Category
Transition metals
Period
5
Group
4
Block
d-block
Phase at STP
solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d2 5s2
Shorthand configuration
[Kr] 4d2 5s2
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 10, 2
Oxidation states
-2, +1, +2, +3, +4

Physical properties

Melting point
2128 K
Boiling point
4682 K
Density
6.506 g/cm3
Phase
solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
1.33
Atomic radius
206 pm
Covalent radius
175 pm
First ionization energy
640 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
41 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Zr-9089.904751.45%Stable

Common uses

  • Nuclear reactors
  • Ceramics
  • Surgical instruments
  • Deodorants

Discovery

Year
1789
Discovered by
Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Country
Germany

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